One Joint Structural Fund Communications Network at National Level

The meeting commenced with the brief opening speech by Ms Claudia Galletti, Director of the MIUR Direction General for Research Coordination and Development, to which the address by Mr Nicola Masi from the Department for Development and Economic Cohesion of the Ministry for Economic Development followed. Mr Masi was in charge of organizing the event and opened the works with emphasis on the relevance of the network which aims at reducing constraints at the minimum, so as to enhance the activities of each component. Subsequently, he outlined the objectives of the network, namely the sharing of information among participants; the circulation of information between this network and other European networks (Inform and INIO); the exchange of information and solutions to common problems, the realization of joint actions between the Managing Authorities (MA) to promote the highest level of instruments and/or occasions for communication and the sharing of specific standards. The network utilizes a dedicated area included in the Mise website which has a reserved access section and a public access section.
The website will also incorporate the Guide-lines on the implementation of Structural Fund communications campaigns drafted by Formez under the Twinning project “Improvement of the Coordination, Management and Implementation Mechanisms of EU Structural Instruments” between the Department for Development and Economic Cohesion of the Ministry of Economic Development, and the Bulgarian Ministry of Finance, team leader and beneficiary of the project. The network members will meet approximately three times a year and will alternate locations in the centre, north and south according to the candidates submitted in turn by MAs. The next meeting is foreseen in Bari on 21 October.
Ms Arianna Fabrini from the Ministry of Work, Health and Social Policies reaffirmed that the meeting in object which is dedicated to the EFRD, is included in the project and provides the establishment of one joint communications network with reference to the European Fund for Regional Development (ERFD) and the European Social Fund (ESF). Mr Vittorio Calaprice, coordinator of the 49 Italian centres of the European Commission information network "Europe Direct", highlighted, in his speech, what synergies are to be realized through greater inter-institutional coordination between the various networks; in addition to this, he quoted the document “Communicating Europe in Partnership” which formalized a method for partnership in the management of European communication between the information office for Italy and the European Parliament, namely the European Commission Representation in Italy and the Department for European Policies of the Council Presidency.